Audi Lunar Quattro Headed for the Moon in 2017

Audi is helping a team called Part-Time Scientists go for Google’s Lunar XPRIZE. Anybody from around the world who can build a rover, fly it to the moon and send back data wins $30 million. The challenge requires that once on the lunar surface, the robot must explore at least 500 m around and send back high-quality photos and video.

Part-Time Scientists have created the robot, but Audi is contributing knowledge of robotics (where their experience with self-driving cars comes in handy), propulsion and lightweight materials to the project, and gets to put the four rings on the rover, called “Audi Lunar Quattro.” The mission is slotted for 2017, with the rover five days after launch near the spot where Apollo 17 touched down in 1972.